Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve 2013 Merlot

Merlot is often maligned; when it’s good it’s sublime, and when it’s bad, well it’s pretty bad. Merlot can get very vegetal which most people don’t like. Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve 2013 Merlot is an excellent balanced flavor I was pointed towards by my local wine steward. He said it was mislabeled and therefore cheaper. There were just over 3k cases produced, and it’s selling for $13 here in Washington state. He said it was a real bargain and it is, I’d place it in the $20 to $30 category if I tasted it blind.

Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve 2013 Merlot has 13.8% ABV. I don’t have any information on how this is aged, but it tastes like it’s a combination of new American and new French oak. I chilled the wine lightly down to about 62 degrees. I aerated the wine with my Vinturi. The wine was a dark purple with the ruby rim. There was a note of cherry as I was opening it.

Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve 2013 Merlot has a huge nose with tons of cherry, blackberry, raspberry, coffee, menthol, and cedar. There are hints of herbs and mushrooms as well. It tastes like it smells with additional notes plum, vanilla, white pepper and nutmeg. The finish is lengthy with oak, nutmeg, white pepper, and dried berries. The second day, the mushroom note became very apparent and complex. The acid is perfect, really a great wine for sipping or having with a meal. The tannins are super fine, and the body is the middle of the road.

Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve 2013 Merlot is a great and well-rounded wine. It’s wonderful with a steak and would be lovely for stew or lamb dishes. I’ll certainly buy a few more bottles! I’m giving it 92 points, and it’s one of the better Merlots I’ve had in a long while.